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On its surface, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to provide free tuition at New York's public colleges is a good one. The idea that public education should start at pre-kindergarten and go through college is absolutely on target. But, the Excelsior Scholarship program fails in a number of ways.

First, Cuomo's effort to "support the dreams and ambitions of those who want a better life" is starting at the end of the educational process, rather than the beginning.

In the Rochester City School District, only 6 percent of students are considered "college ready" when they graduate. For 94 percent of young people in the district, the promise of a free ride through college is an empty one.

To be fair, New York state is providing significant support for anti-poverty measures that, if successful, should eventually help increase the district's college readiness rate. But, it is disingenuous to imply that the Excelsior Scholarship program will help any impoverished child who is dreaming of a brighter — and self-sufficient — future.

For middle-income families, who stand to benefit the most from this program, it seems like a true financial boon. But, if these families are also New York state taxpayers, there are reasons to be wary.

New York state already spends $1 billion every year in direct support to help low- and middle-income students pay for tuition at public and private sector colleges. According to the governor's office, that is more than any other state except Texas. The return on this investment for state taxpayers is questionable, since New York continues to lose more recent college graduates that it retains or attracts.

There is no mechanism in the Excelsior Scholarship program to connect recipients to the work force needs of New York's businesses. Full-time students can earn a two- or four-year degree of their choosing, but it will not magically unlock a career opportunity in a notoriously business-unfriendly environment.

That is one reason New York taxpayers will continue to disproportionately invest in the work forces of North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, Illinois and many other states where college graduates tend to migrate — helping grow the economies of these states more robustly than our own.

The governor's office estimates the cost of the scholarship program will be $163 million annually by the time it is fully phased in. That is hard to verify without a crystal ball. Assuming it is accurate, however, the figure does not incorporate increased costs associated with growing student demand on SUNY and CUNY campuses. It is unclear how much additional money state taxpayers will need to contribute to pay for more staff, faculty, programming, support services and facilities like parking lots and dormitories.

The Excelsior Scholarship program requires students to graduate on time, which could serve to reduce overall student debt in New York. However, the full-time requirement will automatically disqualify aspiring students who need to work in order to pay for housing, food, books, transportation and other expenses beyond tuition.

This particular proposal is lacking. It feels like a statement directed at voters who were energized by free-tuition proposals from Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. If passed, the program may advance Cuomo's political career. But, it is not likely to help strengthen New York.